Package construction, particularly a package designed for a single use

ABSTRACT

A package particularly one designed for a single use, comprises at least one layer of material having an interior cavity which may, for example, be pear-shaped or spherical in form. The cavity is surrounded on all sides by the material of the package, and it forms a space within the package for the filling. A hollow tubular body is connected into the cavity at one end and it provides a means for the passage of the filling material. It includes a part which is surrounded in a fixed position by the material of the package which extends along a longitudinal portion thereof and another part which is surrounded loosely by the packaging material. The loosely surrounded part of the hollow tubular body serves as an area to open the package and the package is provided with a tear area or line extending through a point between the loosely surrounded portion of the hollow body and the fixed portion of the hollow body.

Hannemann et al.

Dec. 9, 1975 PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION,

PARTICULARLY A PACKAGE DESIGNED FOR A SINGLE USE [75] Inventors: Ludwig Hannemann,

Maximiliansau; Manfred Horst Simon, Spessart, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Industrie-Werke Karlsruhe Augsburg Aktiengesellschaft, Germany 22 Filed: Feb. 20, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 444,180

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar, 14, 1973 Germany 2312549 [52] US. Cl. 206/484; 222/541; 206/498 [51] Int. Cl. B65D 73/00; B65D 47/10 [58] Field of Search 206/484, 498, 528, 532; 222/541 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,078,326 4/1937 Howett 222/541 2,962,192 11/1960 Volckening 222/541 Primary Examiner-William I, Price Assistant Examiner-Douglas B. Farrow Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGlew and Tuttle [5 7] ABSTRACT A package particularly one designed for a single use, comprises at least one layer of material having an interior cavity which may, for example, be pear-shaped or spherical in form. The cavity is surrounded on all sides by the material of the package, and it forms a space within the package for the filling. A hollow tubular body is connected into the cavity at one end and it provides a means for the passage of the filling material. It includes a part which is surrounded in a fixed position by the material of thepackage which extends along a longitudinal portion thereof and another part which is surrounded loosely by the packaging material. The loosely surrounded part of the hollow tubular body serves as an area to open the package and the package is provided with a tear area or line extending through a point between the loosely surrounded portion of the hollow body and the fixed portion of the hollow body.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION, PARTICULARLY A PACKAGE DESIGNED FOR A SINGLE USE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to the construction of a package and, in particular, to a new and useful package particularly for a cannular or similar device, which includes at least a single layer of material defining an internal cavity having a hollow tubular body connected to the cavity and tightly held by the material at one longitudinal length thereof extending outwardly from the cavity and a length therebeyond which is loosely fixed within the material and wherein the material has a breaking area extending through the connection between the loosely fixed and rigidly fixed portion of the hollow body.

2. Description of the Prior Art Packages which are destined for a single use in the dispensing of a filling contained in them are known in various forms, for example, in extruded, blown or deepdrawn form. The filling material may be, for example, solutions, ointments, emulsions, syrups and powders. The opening of such a package is effected by removing a nipple, for example, in a ball or wing form by means of a rotary movement to withdraw the nipple from the opening to expose the withdrawal canal or by cutting open the sealed, cemented or welded opening by means of scissors or a knife. In the former case, there is a risk that the withdrawal opening will not always be clean, that is, free of burrs which may be necessary if it is to be used for the eyes, for example. In addition, there is a danger that material particles can be released when the nipple is turned off and will clog the withdrawl opening. In this instance, there is a risk that the sterile filling material will be contaminated by direct or indirect contact with the object used for opening.

In an attempt to avoid the above inconveniences, a device for opening a single dose container is suggested by the prior art, which comprises a material strip, such as a thread, which fills with its intermediate part, a withdrawal canal provided in the package and seals it heremetically, but which protrudes from the outer end of the package. The thread can comprise for example, metal, glass, textile fabric or plastic. Devices of this naturehave many disadvantages, including the completely inadequate means for introducing the contents of the package into deep seated body parts, for example, such as into an ear duct, etc. The withdrawal point of the package has been conically tapered, according to another proposal, and the thread end projects from this withdrawal opening and is welded, sealed or cemented into the tear-off part and the tear-off part is designed as a present breaking point. Even this arrangement leaves much to be desired and cannot be employed by unskilled users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved package which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art constructions, and provides a simple package particularly for a single dose of a filling material. With the invention, a cavity is formed within a material of the package, and it is connected by a hollow tubular memher which is embedded in the package material and which comm unicates with the cavity at its one end and has an opposite end for the discharge of the material into the body cavity, for example. A portion of the length of the hollow body which is directly adjacent the cavity is firmly affixed in the material of the package, and an outer portion is loosely fitted in the package. The loosely surrounded part of the hollow body serves as a means for opening the interior of the package and the package is advantageously provided with a preset breaking point or line extending through the connection between the loosely surrounded part of the hollow body and the rigidly surrounded part. The hollow body itself may be designed in the form of a tubule or similar element whose length is a multiple of its diameter.

In another embodiment of the principal idea of the invention, the hollow body is fixedly surrounded by the material of the package and has a substantially elliptical cross-section, while the remaining part, which is loosely enclosed by the material of the package can have a tubular form. The length of the tubular part of the hollow body is advantageously in the ratio of at least 111 to that of the elliptical part.

The invention provides a number of advantages: The tubular or elliptical body is relatively inexpensive to V manufacture. It is irrelevant whether a thin tube, for example of a suitable plastic, etc., is cut from a coil to the corresponding length or is extruded directly in such a length that it can be welded, cemented or otherwise affixed into the material of the container. The hollow body is also advantageous with respect to its sealing, since its end remote from the cavity is surrounded on all sides by the material of the package to an extent that it permits a completely tight sealing, such as by welding, cementing, etc. The special advantage of the invention is that, after the tear-off part has been removed when it is constructed as a single use dose package, the hollow body which projects beyond the location of the tear-off line can form 'a tubular pouring spout which may be introduced far into a body cavity, such as a nose or ear, without the risk that the filling material will spill out.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a package, particularly of a type which is designed for a single use, which comprises at least a single layer of material forming an interior cavity with a hollow body embedded in the material and having one end communicating with the cavity and another end extendingaway therefrom and with a portion of the length being rigidly fixed in the material and an outer portion being loosely fixed in the material and including a tear-off area defined to tear the material away generally along a line intercepting the connection between the fixed portion of the hollow body and the loosely fixed portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device wherein a container is provided which includes a hollow body forming a tubule which engages into a cavity and provides a pouring spout with a portion adjacent the cavity which is rigidly embedded in the material and an outermost portion which is loose within the material layer and with a tear line which cuts through the container for severing an end thereof located adjacent the loosely fixed portion of the hollow body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operat- 3 ing advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a single dose package constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hollow body used in the container of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the container of FIG. 2.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein in FIG. 1, comprises a container or package, generally designated 10, which is made of a single layer material 1, which may be, for example a metal, plastic, foil, etc. In some instances, a plastic coated metal foil is employed for a package of this type. The package material is provided with a cavity 2 by means of deep-drawing, stamping, etc. After a cavity is formed in one-half portion of the package, it is joined with a second foil which is not shown and which comprises the same material, and which is treated in the same manner and which is made congruent with the first foil. The cavity 2 which is thus obtained serves to receive a filling material 3. The joining of one foil with the other can be effected in various ways, for example by cementing, welding, etc. Before the two foil halves are joined together, a hollow body 4 is inserted into one of the foils. I-Iollow body 4 is designed, as shown in FIG. 1, as a tubule or tubular member having its one end connected into the cavity and an opposite end which extends away from the cavity and forms a pouring spout, for example.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, a portion of the length of hollow body 4 adjacent cavity 2 is firmly affixed within the material so that it will not be displaced, and an outer portion 4a, which is located in a tear-off or removable portion 5 of the container, is arranged loosely within the material, so that there is a surrounding space between it and the material. A tearoff perforation or other weakening area 6 is advantageously defined at the location between the firmly fixed portion 4b and the loosely fixed portion 4a of the ho]- low body. Line 6 defines the breaking point of the package which may be removed to expose the outer end 4a of hollow body 4.

When the package is used, both the part of the package above and below the boundary tear-off area 6 are grasped with the thumb and index finger and they are separated from each other by pulling in respective opposite directions with relatively little effort. Due to the axially symmetrical design of the package shown in FIG. 1, the opening process is effected on the side remote from the open side. The opening process on both sides is completed when the tear-off part 5 can be removed without difficulty from the hollow body 4 which, as shown, is in the form of a tubule. The exposed germ-free upper end of the hollow body, namely, part 4a, can then be introduced into a body organ to be treated with the medicament, for example. The contents of the cavity can be emptied under slight pressure 4 applied to the package wall to empty filling material 3 into the body organ.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a package 12 comprises substantially the same construction as that shown in FIG. 1, but hollow body 4 comprises a tubular member which has an elliptical part 4a and a circularly cylindrical tubular part 4b. The interior has a bore 4c of uniform diameter extending through the entire portion. By forming the lower part 4a elliptical, it is ensured that a continuous lateral transition to the foils is possible. Because part 4a is thicker than part 4b, undesired compression of hollow body 4 is avoided and this would be likely to happen with improper handling of the single dose package or if the hollow body 4 is employed which is selected too soft or too thin.

In each embodiment, the packages 10 and 12 are joined to similar packages indicated in dot-and-dash outline at 7 which are joined to each side of the package.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of theinvention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A package construction, particularly a package designed for a single use, comprising at least a single layer material having an interior cavity surrounded on all sides by said material forming a space to receive the filling and which is provided with means for opening the package, a hollow tubular body connected to the cavity for the passage of the filling material whose one part is surrounded fixedly in longitudinal direction by said material and whose other part is surrounded loosely in longitudinal direction by said material, the loosely surrounded part of said hollow body serving to open the package and the boundary of said material between the fixedly and the loosely surrounded hollow body having tear-off area extending across the package defining a preset breaking point.

2. A package construction, according to claim 1, wherein said hollow body comprises a tubule.

3. A package construction, according to claim 1, wherein said hollow body includes a substantially elliptical portion which is affixed in said material with the portion thereof which is loosely placed in the material being substantially tubular.

4. A package construction, according to claim 3, wherein the length-of said tubular part is in the ratio of at least 1:1 of the length of the elliptical portion.

5. A package comprising a container formed with an interior cavity and with a tear-away portion spaced from said cavity, a tubular hollow body disposed in said container wall with one end in communication with the cavity and an opposite end extending into said tearaway portion, said opposite end being loosely fitted in said tear-away portion, and a weakened area defined between said tear-away portion and the remainder of said container defining a weakened area to permit tearing away of said tear-away portion to uncover the loosely fitted portion of said hollow tubular member.

6. A method of forming a container, comprising forming a cavity into a sheet of material to define a filling space, positioning a hollow tubular member over the sheet of material with one end connected into said cavity and an opposite end extending outwardly therefrom terminating short of the end of said sheet of material, and placing another material over the first material and securing it to the first material in the area surrounding said cavity and tightly around a portion of the length of said hollow tubular member with the remaining portion being left loosely surrounded, and defining 6 a weakened area across both sheets of material intercepting the portion of said hollow tubular member which is loosely surrounded by the sheets of material. 

1. A package construction, particularly a package designed for a single use, comprising at least a single layer material having an interior cavity surrounded on all sides by said material forming a space to receive the filling and which is provided with means for opening the package, a hollow tubular body connected to the cavity for the passage of the filling material whose one part is surrounded fixedly in longitudinal direction by said material and whose other part is surrounded loosely in longitudinal direction by said material, the loosely surrounded part of said hollow body serving to open the package and the boundary of said material between the fixedly and the loosely surrounded hollow body having tear-off area extending across the package defining a preset breaking point.
 2. A package construction, according to claim 1, wherein said hollow body comprises a tubule.
 3. A package construction, according to claim 1, wherein said hollow body includes a substantially elliptical portion which is affixed in said material with the portion thereof which is loosely placed in the material being substantially tubular.
 4. A package construction, according to claim 3, wherein the length of said tubular part is in the ratio of at least 1:1 of the length of the elliptical portion.
 5. A package comprising a container formed with an interior cavity and with a tear-away portion spaced from said cavity, a tubular hollow body disposed in said container wall with one end in communication with the cavity and an opposite end extending into said tear-away portion, said opposite end being loosely fitted in said tear-away portion, and a weakened area defined between said tear-away portion and the remainder of said container defining a weakened area to permit tearing away of said tear-away portion to uncover the loosely fitted portion of said hollow tubular member.
 6. A method of forming a container, comprising forming a cavity into a sheet of material to define a filling space, positioning a hollow tubular member over the sheet of material with one end connected into said cavity and an opposite end extending outwardly therefrom terminating short of the end of said sheet of material, and placing another material over the first material and securing it to the first material in the area surrounding said cavity and tightly around a portion of the length of said hollow tubular member with the remaining portion being left loosely surrounded, and defining a weakened area across both sheets of material intercepting the portion of said hollow tubular member which is loosely surrounded by the sheets of material. 